“Command & Control Regulation”
17.32 Environmental Politics 1

„
„
„
Environmental problems are fundamentally
“technical in nature”
„ problems can be segmented and dealt with piecemeal: air, water, solid waste, pesticides, land use, endangered species, etc.
We can distinguish between technical and political issues in policy-making
A professionalized bureaucracy will be politically neutral and produce the best public policy decisions
„
Based on scientific problem-solving
17.32 Environmental Politics 2

Forms of Government Action
Markets Information
Do
Nothing
Laws
Rules
Services
Rights
17.32 Environmental Politics 3

„
Industry = polluting enemy
„
Government must protect the public
„
Government agencies are captured by industry
„
„
Î Congress to create laws mandating action
„
Create legal mechanisms to ensure enforcement
Create a new agency dedicated to the environment
17.32 Environmental Politics 4

„
Government sets standards
„
Performance & technological standards
„
There are “safe” levels of pollutants & environmental damage
„
Government compels compliance via law
„
Non-compliance is a crime
„
Government monitors compliance
„
Government enforces rules
17.32 Environmental Politics 5

National Environmental Policy Act
(1969)
„
All Federal agencies must submit EIS
„
Scientific-technical review of projects
„
Allows legal challenges for compliance
„
Creates CEQ
„
3 member panel appointed by President
17.32 Environmental Politics 6